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Sunday, September 14, 2014

Hard to believe I have turned 64. Every year for close to twenty years I have celebrated by going for a ride over Tioga Pass and back over Sonora Pass. This year we came back over Ebbetts Pass adding about 28 miles to the ride.

7:00 AM as the sun comes up. Long ride and we stop for food and good conversation.

Food is a part of the ride. Breakfast at the 50's roadhouse in Knight Ferry. Next stop is the north gate into Yosemite National Park.

Fred pulling into the parking lot.

Ken followed by Bob arrive.

Gene bringing up the rear as we stop for a break before heading up and over Tioga Pass. We have traveled just about 100 miles 1/4 of the ride for the day. Tioga Pass is the highest pass in California at 9,943 feet.

Olmsted Point is our next stop. It is named after landscapeFrederick Law Olmsted, Jr.. Great view looking over Yosemite Valley and Half Dome. NPS had a spotting scope set up and you could see the people going up the cable to the top of half dome. There were more people stopped here today than I have ever seen. People were looking for a place to park. Just about perfect weather with large puffy clouds.

I think Bob's gut may be getting bigger.

We find parking, and get ready to enjoy the view.

The crew solving the problems of the world.

Good friends, good weather. Great ride in the High Sierras, it does not get much better.

Down the hill we drop over 3,000 feet in a short ride to lunch at the Whoa Nellie Deli. The best food you will find at any gas station.

Digesting after lunch. The view may be one of the best of any restaurant in the sierras. High on the hill over looking Mono Lake.

Saw this trike in the parking lot. NOT my style but really good work putting it together.

Largest spring I have seen on the front of a motorcycle.

It was really long.

All the way from New Mexico.

Almost half way for the ride, we now head north on Hwy 395 to the turn to Monitor Pass. Monitor is one of the great motorcycle roads, with a step climb and great views of the Carson Valley. Turning west you cross through groves of aspen trees just starting to get their fall colors. Long wide sweeping turns across the top. The road then drops to through what is referred to as a technical section until you reach Hwy 4. Ebbetts Pass on Hwy 4 is another great motorcycle road. Much narrower than Monitor Pass, Ebbetts is full of tight switch back and blind corners. Our next stop is Lake Alpine.

I "twiked the throttle" a little coming over Ebbetts Pass, waited 5 minutes for the crew to arrive.

Fred, Ken and Bob arrives. Gene turned off at the bottom of Monitor Pass and headed to a camping spot at Silver Lake.

We enjoyed the cool air and views of Lake Alpine. The temperature has been in the 70's to low 80's after we hit Yosemite Park. We saw low temps of 60 degrees on the top of the passes. From Alpine we start the drop into the Valley and the heat. It was 95 degrees when we went through Murphys. Actually cooled to 90 at Farmington with the trees being watered. Arrived home just about 7:00 PM. Just about the best way to spend a birthday.